England Stars Back Wigan's Kick Racism Campaign

Kids urged to sign up soon for fun football festivals.

England’s latest football heroes have given their support to Wigan Borough’s Kick Racism Out Of Football campaign for 2005. Star midfielder Katy Chapman and England coach Hope Powell praised the Wigan campaign and urged children aged seven and eight from across Wigan and Leigh to sign up for the first football festival on August 7th at Mesnes Park, Wigan, as part of the WOW Festival.

“Kick Racism Out Of Football is a really important campaign and it's great to see that in areas such as the Wigan Borough it is going from strength to strength. Anything that promotes diversity in football is really important,” said Hope at England’s training camp in Blackburn. “The more people are aware of this cause the better and of course it's also important for children to have fun when playing football. It's great to get young people involved and I hope that lots of girls and boys from across Wigan and Leigh join in the fun at the football festival in August." The campaign in Wigan is organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust with the support a wide variety of groups from across the borough. As well as August’s fun festival for children there are two adult fun festivals planned for October in Leigh and Wigan.

There will also be competitive tournaments for school pupils in November; an historical display at the Turnpike Gallery; art workshops and a cultural learning provision in schools and at Township Forums right across the Borough.England midfielder Katy Chapman echoed Hope’s enthusiasm for the campaign. “It’s a great idea to kick off the campaign with a fun football festival.  It’s important to promote the Kick Racism message to youngsters and I would encourage all children to go along and have some fun at the festival in August.”

"Wigan Borough's Kick Racism Out of Football programme is about engaging a wide variety of ethnic groups in football-related activity that will help raise cultural awareness, develop greater tolerance and understanding and positively promote a zero tolerance attitude to racism,” says John Hesketh, Community Regeneration Manager.  “It is also important that children and adults of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to take part and enjoy the festivals and through football increase their awareness of cultural and racial issues that affect us all.  Over the late summer and early autumn there will be something for everyone and people interested in finding out more are encouraged to get in touch.” 

To enter this year’s football festival on August 7^th or for information about the variety of activities taking place across the borough this summer and autumn please contact John Hesketh on 01942 486916 or at j.hesketh@wlct.org. Information can also be found by viewing WLCT's KROF page or the national campaign at www.kickitout.org.The Wigan Borough Kick Racism Out Of Football campaign is kindly supported by Wigan Athletic F.C., Wigan Warriors, Ashton Insurance, Greater Manchester Police, Positive Futures, Wigan and Leigh College, Wigan and Leigh United Against Racism and Wigan Council.

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NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information please contact Chris Dunbar, PR Consultant, WLCT on 01942 486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org

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